06 Dec 2017

“And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country,” once remarked the 35th President of the United States of America and this has gone on to resonate with so many people around and the world and Botswana is no different.

It is always reassuring to see citizens involved in initiatives that are aimed at uplifting the less fortunate instead of always looking at government going at it alone; and one such lady is Matlhogonolo Mponang.

With Selebi Phikwe going through the most ever since BCL’s shutdown and being placed under liquidation, she decided to take matters into her own hands by partnering with various artists amongst them Dr Mpho Kuaho, a local internationally acclaimed fashion designer,  by hosting an art show titled ‘Where Fashion Meets Art’ this past weekend at Issues Fashion Studio.

Speaking in an interview, Mponang indicated that the theme of the show was Selebi Phikwe Re-awakening the Never Dying.

She is of the opinion that Selebi Phikwe should be turned into a cultural epicenter.

“Bonnie Dintwe, Zibanani Madomo aka O’Neal, Tebogo Sekgoma (Lady of Soul), Thebe Mogapi, Andrew Letshwiti, Mpho Kuaho, Sipho Ziga, who is a partner at Armstrong, etc. The point is Selibe-Phikwe produced firebrands and we should rebuild it,” she said.

She indicated that the art show hosted by her Tshiamo Gotlhe Mogapi (TGM) Coaching and Mentoring Program would be hosted quarterly.

Some of the young fine artists, who also displayed at the show were, Ronald Lolo Kegomoditswe and Prince Tom.

Mponang said she was passionate about youth development and part of the proceeds from the sale of artworks would go towards building a digital and hard copy library at Tlhalosang Junior Secondary School in Chadibe, of which she adopted in her private capacity.

“Mpho and I sponsored the art show ourselves. We spent in excess of P15 000 and we did not get sponsors let alone government assistance, but this is not to say we asked for help and they refused. We decided to go the distance ourselves and we estimate that we are going to make around P50 000,” said Mponang.

Going forward, she said they plan on building libraries across Botswana with proceeds from this show.  

“The essence of what we do is to develop the youth, give back to the community and for them to be able to stand on their own two feet and also encourage reading amongst people,” she said.

Speaking on the art show, Mponang said the show installed nine artists with roots in Selebi Phikwe and two others from areas in Botswana.

“Entry was free and all fashion items by Dr Mpho Kuaho were P200 a piece. Also, all fine artists who displayed and managed to sell, gave five per cent of their sales to the TGM Program,” said Mponang.

On being quizzed about involving sponsors in her next art show, Mponang said she would welcome sponsors willing to develop her work further.

“I welcome corporate sponsors, but I am not going to ask anyone to do this work with me. Sponsors have to be interested in doing this work without being asked and them seeing the need for them to get involved,” she concluded.

Mponang is a business executive with over 20 years’ varied work experience and she is a seasoned professional, who has operated across industries and at all levels in government, non- governmental and corporate Botswana.

She has also worked in both greenfield and established environments. BOPA